WEBVTT
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If your paycheck stopped for thirty days, would your household stay steady or start scrambling by week two?
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If extreme heat knocked out the power, would you know how to recognize heat stroke before it turned deadly?
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Today we're talking about building a simple thirty day buffer on a real life budget and handling heat related illnesses the right way.
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Real risks, practical steps, no drama.
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Welcome to Practical Prepping.
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Today is July 27th, 2026.
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And this is episode 563.
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This is the Prepping Podcast with no bunkers, no zombies, and no alien invasions.
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Just practical prepping, where we teach everyday people how to prepare for life's emergencies, disasters, and crises.
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And we're here to help you get prepared.
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I'm Krista.
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And I'm Mark.
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If you'd like the episode notes for today's show, go to practicalprepping.info forward slash five six three.
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Now we're talking about building a 30-day buffer on a budget, and we'll be talking about handling heat-related illnesses.
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So let's talk about that.
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What does a one-month buffer actually mean?
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Well, with a one-month buffer, your household can operate for 30 days without new income and without needing immediate outside assistance.
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Okay.
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It means three things.
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Start with food security for 30 days.
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You have enough shelf stable and freezer food to feed everyone in your home for one month.
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You have adequate calories and balanced nutrition using foods you already eat.
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We're not talking about 25 year emergency foods here.
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We're talking about foods that you normally eat.
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And of course, my favorite water.
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The water you have on hand, enough storage for drinking purposes and basic hygiene, or a reliable plan to at least access and purify water if your utilities are interrupted.
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And it's having one month of essential expenses covered.
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Enough cash reserves to pay your core bills if the income stops temporarily.
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We're talking here housing, utilities, insurance, transportation, basic groceries.
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You have that 30-day supply, but you may need to add milk and bread for the family during that time.
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You know, a 30-day buffer is going to protect you against the most common disruptions, things like a job loss, medical leave, even severe weather that can impact you for weeks.
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A short-term supply chain could be interrupted, or there could be some unexpected repairs that need to be done suddenly.
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I was in a client's home the other day and they were dealing with a catastrophic plumbing leak while they were on vacation.
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So this bad boy went unchecked for a couple of weeks.
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So it's been a complete nightmare for them.
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And that emergency fund comes in handy for that kind of thing.
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It creates breathing room and it gives you time to make decisions instead of reacting in panic.
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It's financial and logistical margin.
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And it's the space between stability and crisis.
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So we're going to talk a little bit later about how to create a 30-day buffer on a budget.
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And we're going to do that in a minute.
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But first, we'd like to say that today's cup of coffee comes from Heidi, who has been a supporter of our podcast since March.
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Heidi, we really do appreciate your support.
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Yes, we do.
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And friends, you too can go to practicalprepping.info slash support, where you can show us a little bit of love by buying us a few cups of coffee.
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Or maybe you would even consider a coffee membership, just like Heidi did.
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It's only five dollars per month.
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But that really goes a long way to help us offset the expenses of the show.
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So please consider helping us out at practicalprepping.
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Now let's get back to the show.
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So here is how we create that buffer.
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First, assess your current starting point.
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Take inventory of the pantry, take inventory of the freezer, make a list of what you would need to feed your family for a month and calculate one month of your essential expenses.
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Now identify the gaps instead of guessing.
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Also create a food strategy.
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Of course, you want to buy what you're already eating.
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So consider adding one or two or a few extra items every shopping trip to build up toward that 30-day buffer.
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Focus on some of the calorie-dense low-cost staples, and it helps to build in some depth in your core foods.
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And then just create a simple rotation system.
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I do that very same thing.
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I go into my prepper pantry and I rotate out some things that I may have put back a year or two ago, and then I can replace them with more current products later on.
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She calls it shopping her pantry.
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I shop my own pantry.
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You want to create that water storage plan.
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Now the very minimum daily needs of one gallon per person per day.
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That's a very minimum.
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We store more, but start there, a minimum of one gallon per day per person.
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Now there's some short-term storage options, but do not reuse milk jugs.
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It's just virtually impossible to clean out all of the bacteria in there, and that's going to create an issue for you later.
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And they leak very easily.
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They're not intended for long-term storage.
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That's true.
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But you can get some gallon jugs of water from the grocery store.
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Some of these are fairly thick plastic.
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You can use cases of bottled water.
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You can refill sturdy gallon jugs.
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Now we use distilled water.
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I'm on a CPAP.
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I use distilled water in that.
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Krista uses it in a humidifier.
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So we get quite a few of these gallon jugs that are rather substantial.
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And we refill those with tap water.
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Put a date on it and set it aside.
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And you want to gradually increase that supply.
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And that's how we're increasing that supply is we're adding to it as we use up our distilled water.
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And remember, when you're storing water, don't store it directly on a concrete floor.
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Put it on a pallet or raise it up on some kind of a wood shelf if necessary.
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You could store it under the bed or in the back of a closet, but we just recommend not directly on a concrete floor just in case of a leak or a possible contamination if there's a flood.
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Well, it will leach over time.
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Yeah, that's true.
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Now let's talk about developing that emergency fund.
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Okay.
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Cash can be king.
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And sometimes it can be the only thing.
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I've seen that happen.
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Especially when you're talking about damage after a storm and maybe the store is able to open, but they can't process debit cards.
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Right.
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Maybe their internet is out and so they can't do that.
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But they can sell you gas for cash.
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Right, or anything else, you know, for cash.
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So you want a cash emergency fund for those ATM outages and for that grid damage as we mentioned there.
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But start with five hundred dollars as a goal and you can bill toward one month of essential expenses after that.
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And one of the things that helps to do this is kind of automate small weekly deposits.
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Now I like having a cash emergency fund here in the house.
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If you put in something like$10,$20,$50 per paycheck, whatever you can do, anything's better than nothing.
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But I ran the numbers on this when I was researching some of this.
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And forty dollars per pay period over three months would give you a$500 emergency fund.
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Okay.
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So it's really not that hard to build, just have to set that money aside.
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And one thing that I've seen some folks recommend doing is cutting one expense temporarily to accelerate the progress of that.
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Yeah.
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I've seen that where sometimes you might have to cut out that fancy cup of coffee in the morning from the fancy drive-thru.
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But if that helps get you toward that emergency fund, you'll be thanking yourself many times over.
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Yeah, I carry a thermos.
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I I'd rather not spend five dollars for a cup of coffee when I can have you want good coffee.
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I want good coffee.
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I want homemade coffee that I'm used to drinking.
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In doing this, there's some ways you can reduce the financial strain, and one is to spread these purchases over eight to twelve weeks.
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We're talking about building a month's worth of cushion, but you can build that over three months, and it doesn't hurt that bad.
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Watch for sales and seasonal discounts and bogos.
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I used to love to go into publics and they would have something unadvertised and it was buy one, get one free.
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Right, yeah.
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And I remember one the first time I found that particular case was American cheese.
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And I was eating a lot of sandwiches with sliced cheese, so it it worked great.
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But do not go into debt for preparedness purchases.
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Okay, friends, are you learning from the podcast?
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Are you getting some new ideas for your prepping journey?
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Or are you identifying a skill that maybe you need to learn?
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In other words, do you receive value from our little show here, Practical Prepping Podcast?
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Would you help us out by giving back a little?
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Go to practical prepping.info slash support, and you'll find several ways that you can help support our show.
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Now let's jump on over into segment two, and we're going to talk about heat-related illnesses, something we've been seeing in the news a bit here lately.
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We have.
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Yeah, we call it air you can wear.
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It's like soup.
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You're breathing soup.
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It's just miserable.
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But heat-related illnesses are medical conditions that are caused by the body's inability to properly cool itself.
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And they range from mild to life-threatening.
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So I want to talk about some of the early recognition and the intervention tactics that you need to take if you're starting to see yourself or someone else beginning to suffer from a heat-related illness.
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Now, one thing that I do is wear a cool cloth when I'm working outside in the heat.
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It's simple and it really does help, especially in this oppressive heat that we're experiencing this year.
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All you do is wet it, snap it, and put it around your neck.
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The evaporative cooling keeps you much more comfortable and safer.
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There are two that I use, and one is made by Mission and the other by Frog Togs.
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And I'll put the link to those in the show notes and on the featured items page at practical prepping.info forward slash featured.
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That's really important if you're mowing the grass or working in your garden or just outside with your kids.
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Just having that cool cloth around your neck can lower that temperature in the winter.
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It really helps.
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It really does help.
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Now the first thing we're going to cover, and these are in ascending order of severity.
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Okay.
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Heat cramps.
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Heat cramps.
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They're painful muscle cramps caused by heavy sweating and electrolyte loss.
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Now you see these at a lot of football games, players having leg cramps.
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Okay.
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The heat cramps that come upon them.
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Muscle spasms, usually in the arms, can be in the leg, but can also be in the abdomen.
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Oh.
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And it'll be along with heavy sweating.
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And it's common during that strenuous activity in the heat.
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So let's talk about prevention.
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You want to hydrate before you begin these activities.
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And during these activities and after the activities.
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In other words, properly hydrate before, during, and after.
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And you want to use some beverages that have proper electrolytes in them because this helps to replace the fluids and the salts that you lose through sweating.
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And take frequent breaks in shaded or cooler areas just to get some of that heat off of your skin.
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And if you can limit some very intense activity during the peak heat, which is generally between about 10 o'clock in the morning to almost 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
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Those tend to be the hours where the direct heat is so much more oppressive.
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Right.
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Now, if you're experiencing or someone you're with is experiencing heat cramps, move them to a cool place and drink water or that electrolyte drink slowly.
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Don't just chug it down.
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And then gently stretch and massage the affected muscles.
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We're talking about Charlie horses here, is kind of what we're talking about.
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Yeah, for sure.
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This next one is heat syncope.
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No, syncope is a medical term.
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What does it stand for?
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It means fainting.
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Oh, okay.
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And this is a feigning episode caused by heat exposure and dehydration.
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I've actually experienced that.
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Yes.
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And symptoms can include dizziness, lightheadedness, feigning, which you did on a public roadway.
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Yeah.
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A pale skin.
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And it often occurs after standing quickly in hot conditions.
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So a great way for prevention is to, again, maintain that hydration before, during, and after.
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Avoid standing motionless in heat, and especially if you're locking your knees, because that can actually accelerate the bad symptoms.
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The kids that are in band camp during the summer, a lot of times this is going to be happening to them because they're not accustomed to rehearsing in the hot of the day.
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And I know that some of the instructors and the coaches and the teachers are trying to be very cognizant of the hottest part of the day where they'll do some of their training inside, and that's great.
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But at some point, these students are going to have to be practicing the athletic field or the band field out on the field.
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And so if you're feeling the syncope type feeling coming on, get yourself to a cooler place if you can slowly sit down, lie down if it makes you more comfortable, and begin hydrating, especially with the electrolytes.
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And I've seen videos of this uh happening with lines of troops that were being reviewed and they've been standing in attention for some period of time.
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Oh, sure.
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And all of a sudden, one of them just falls over.
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Just falls right out.
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Just falls out right there on the parade ground.
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So be careful with this.
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And also be careful to rise slowly from sitting or lying positions.
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Yeah, no jumping up.
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No jumping up.
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And the older I get, the more important this is.
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Nothing related with heat, but I'm a little bit more cautious when I stand up now than I was 20 years ago.
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Sure, I know.
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It feels different.
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Yeah.
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So the treatment for that, of course, move to a cool area.
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Lay the person down, and if you can, elevate their legs, even if you have to put some jackets or clothing up underneath their legs.
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Get that, uh, get those feet above that heart level.
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Loosen any tight clothing that might be binding on them, that might be causing a lot of elevation of heat.
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And provide some cool fluids for them to sip slowly once they are fully alert.
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Never try to give someone something to drink if they're not conscious.
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Now let's move to heat exhaustion.
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Okay.
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Heat exhaustion is a serious condition from prolonged heat exposure and fluid loss.
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I've experienced this twice.
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Yeah.
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Both times I was on duty, both times involved uh being at a wreck, being in a vehicle in the middle of the summer, uh in August in particular.
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Oh man.
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And with high temperature and high humidity.
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And then you're in all that gear.
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Yeah, and then when it's over, I went down.
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Yeah.
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But some of the symptoms here are heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, headache, cool, clammy skin, a rapid pulse, and dizziness.
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Yeah.
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And it was the dizziness that really took me out when I got your feet just come out from under you.
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Basically.
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And I just sat down right where I was.
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And happened to have paramedics on the scene that were very attentive to me after they got the patient on the way to the hospital.
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That's good.
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Now, prevention in the case of that type of exhaustion, you want to increase your fluid intake in hot weather, especially if you know you're going to be out there in it, you know, for more than just a few moments.
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If at all possible, wear loose, lightweight clothing.
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You know, this isn't the time to be going out in, you know, hoodies and long pants, maybe.
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And it's also a time to be wearing lighter colored clothing.
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Yes, exactly.
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A little bit more heat reflective that way.
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Work during the cooler hours if you can get your outdoor work done before 10 or say after five.
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That might be a big advantage for you so that you're not putting yourself at risk in those most exposed hours for heat.
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And take regular cooling breaks.
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Even if you don't feel like you need to stop, go ahead and stop, sit down, get cool, get in the shade.
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Give your physical body a break.
00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:23.279
Don't try to push through and think you can get through faster.
00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:25.279
You may not be able to make it.
00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.559
So be very kind.
00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:32.960
And here you can use wet cloths or a mist with a water and fan.
00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.079
They do make little personal.
00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.400
They even make fans in a hat now.
00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:42.480
I saw a boonie hat that has two fans built in on the brim of each side just to get your face cool.
00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:47.759
And I've always seen those misters with the little fan blade on it that turns.
00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:48.640
Those work.
00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:49.680
They they really do.
00:18:50.400 --> 00:19:00.720
But you can also use small sips of cool fluids, and you can give that to someone else as long as they are conscious as well, as Krista mentioned a while ago.
00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:02.880
Now we move to heat stroke.
00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.480
Yeah, this is the big daddy.
00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.759
This is the big one.
00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:08.319
This is the true medical emergency.
00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:10.720
You will be calling 911.
00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.480
Hopefully you will be.
00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:22.400
But we have some treatment options of how to handle this if 911 or if your emergency services are not available or are delayed.
00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.119
Oh, right.
00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.279
Okay.
00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:25.680
We're going to talk about that in a minute.
00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:30.799
But this is the most severe and life-threatening heat illness.
00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.960
People die from heat stroke.
00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.079
Yes, they do.
00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:38.640
And it occurs when the body's temperature regulation fails.
00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:44.319
Yeah, this is like you've gone through all those other stages, and now you're at literally the end of the rope.
00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:50.240
And the symptoms can be when the body temperature registers above 104 Fahrenheit.
00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.400
And we're talking about an adult there.
00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.839
We're not talking about a child.
00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.480
Right.
00:19:54.720 --> 00:20:01.200
The skin is hot, it's red, and it's usually dry, not cold, clammy, or sweaty.
00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:03.200
It's dry red skin.
00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:13.200
And there can be some behavioral symptoms like confusion, slurred speech, even seizures, or ultimately a loss of consciousness.
00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:18.480
And the best way to prevent it is to avoid extreme exertion in high heat.
00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:19.200
For sure.
00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.640
Let's point this out.
00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:27.519
Never leave anyone or any animal in a parked vehicle without the air conditioner running.
00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:35.440
We see this every year, and it's so sad that we see children die every year from being left in a hot car.
00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:41.039
And we occasionally see pets left in hot cars and they can die as well.
00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:41.839
True.
00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:47.680
You might want to check on vulnerable individuals that you know during heat waves.
00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:57.759
The infants, the elderly, and those with special needs that may not have the cognitive behavior to know how to protect themselves from high heat.
00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:04.880
Now, as Krista mentioned, call 911 immediately or your country's emergency number.
00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:07.200
It's not 911 in every country.
00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:15.119
But for example, the United Kingdom, they dial 999 or 112.
00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:15.680
Okay.
00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:32.480
European countries are usually 112, Australia is 000, New Zealand is 111, and a number of countries have different numbers if you want police, if you want fire, or if you want EMS.
00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.119
Oh, sure.
00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:38.960
So know what your country's codes or numbers are for getting help.
00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:47.279
Write those down, memorize them, make sure the the kids know how to use that and properly to call for assistance.
00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:53.359
But if you have someone who is experiencing heat stroke, move them to a cooler area.
00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:59.759
And you do this before even if you've called and EMS is ten minutes away.
00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:04.480
Which twenty minutes may be in a rural county, something like that.
00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:06.880
It can be an extended period of time.
00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:17.039
In a city, it might be four, five, six minutes, but those time periods greatly extend when we get out away from major population centers.
00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:17.359
Right.
00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:22.559
So you want to begin cooling these people as quickly as possible.
00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:27.839
And the gold standard here is cold water immersion.
00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:29.119
Not ice water.
00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.720
It doesn't have to be ice water.
00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.599
It can be tap water.
00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:34.319
Just cold tap water.
00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:38.880
Or you can apply ice packs to the neck, armpits, and groin.
00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.440
Okay.
00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:44.640
But don't give fluids if the person is unconscious or not fully alert.
00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.720
They could have some swallowing difficulty.
00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.279
They can.
00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:49.119
It could cause them to aspirate.
00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:53.599
Now heat stroke can develop very, very quickly.
00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:58.799
So prompt recognition and aggressive cooling can save a life.
00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:03.920
But now what do we do if there's a delay in professional medical help?
00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:11.279
First thing is remember that it's a life-threatening emergency and you must take action now.
00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.000
Exactly.
00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:19.839
See that brain injury can begin within minutes once the core temperature rises above 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:20.319
Okay.
00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:22.160
So act immediately.
00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:25.039
And the goal is simple, as I said earlier.
00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:27.920
Cool the body as fast as possible.
00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:37.839
Move that person out of direct heat, get them into the shade, air conditioning, or at a minimum, create airflow and remove excess clothing.
00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:42.000
These are the rapid cooling methods in order of effectiveness.
00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:44.559
Number one, cold water immersion.
00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:54.880
If it's available, immerse the person completely in cold water immediately, like in a stock tank, a bathtub, a kiddie pool, or even a very large container.
00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:58.480
It's something that can hold cold water, but not ice cold.
00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:01.599
Just cold tap water is an effective temperature.
00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:06.000
And stir that water around continuously to improve the cooling.
00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:09.200
This is the gold standard when it is feasible.
00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:15.680
You know, I had not thought about until I was doing some research on this, about stirring the water continuously.
00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:20.880
Right, because you're pulling some of the heat off of that body and you're dispersing that heat out into the water.
00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:26.640
If it's not moving, that water that is right next to the body will warm very quickly.
00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.720
So you want to do that.
00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:31.440
Next thing is cold water drenching.
00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:37.440
You would do this if immersion, if you're not able to lift that person, for example, here's your alternative.
00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:45.039
What you want to do is continuously pour cold water over the body while you're fanning them aggressively.
00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.599
Okay.
00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:48.640
You're moving that air across a wet body.
00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.920
Creating a breeze.
00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:59.839
Every time I think about cold water drenching, I see a football coach on the sidelines when his players come up behind him and dump the bucket of Gatorade on him.
00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:04.720
Maybe we won't don't need to be that aggressive, but well, if it takes it, drench them.
00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.920
Well, that's do whatever.
00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.319
Okay.
00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:12.960
And if you're not able to lift them into something, you may need to pour buckets of water over their body.
00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:13.599
Sure.
00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:16.240
Next thing is ice packs.
00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:16.799
Okay.
00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:22.880
And you place these ice packs or coal compresses on major blood vessel areas.
00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:28.240
That's the neck, the armpits, the groin on the side of the torso.
00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:32.880
Here, again, rotate those frequently as they do warm up.
00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:33.759
Yeah, exactly.
00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:36.400
It's like taking a fever off of somebody in a way.
00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:38.720
Also, some evaporative cooling techniques.
00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:43.119
You could soak clothing or skin with cool water and fan continuously.
00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:48.640
Moving that air helps dramatically improve the heat loss, and that's exactly what you're after.
00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:52.960
But if they're unconscious but they're breathing, place them on their side.
00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:53.440
Okay.
00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:57.920
Now, if they're unconscious and not breathing, then we need to go to CPR.
00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.480
Right.
00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:05.279
But you really need to monitor these folks with for their airway and their breathing very, very closely.
00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.160
Now, Mr.
00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:07.759
I'm going to pick your medic brain.
00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:09.920
Why would you place them on their side?
00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:16.799
One of the reasons is if they throw up, then there it's It's more likely to come out in a way.
00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:18.880
It's less chance of aspiration.
00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.839
Oh, that's makes sense.
00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.839
It's called a recovery position.
00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:26.160
Okay, because yeah, a nausea can very much be associated with these heat illnesses.
00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.039
With many of these.
00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.920
Yeah, for sure.
00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:37.759
But don't give these folks fluids if they're unconscious, even if they're confused or if they're unable to swallow safely.
00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:45.200
So yeah, if they're fully alert and they're able to swallow, allow them some small sips of cool water.
00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:48.319
But the cooling of their skin does take priority.
00:26:48.400 --> 00:27:00.480
So continue that aggressive cooling until professional care arrives or until the body temperature begins to drop to approximately 101 to 102 to avoid overcooling.
00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:03.039
Yeah, heat stroke is a race against time.
00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:03.519
Right.
00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.480
That's all it is.
00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:08.160
Immediate decisive cooling has been known to save lives.
00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:10.880
Yes, it has, and yes, it does.
00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:14.880
There you have it, and we have these listed in the episode notes.
00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:21.039
If you would like those, go to practical prepping.info forward slash five six three.
00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:23.839
And you'll be able to download those there.
00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.519
Thank you for your time.
00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:28.079
Thank you for being here with us today.
00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:32.799
And as Krista always says, Stuff happens, stay prepared.
00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:34.559
And we'll see you next time.
00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:10.960
If your paycheck stopped for thirty days, would your household stay steady or start scrambling by week two?
00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:18.239
If extreme heat knocked out the power, would you know how to recognize heat stroke before it turned deadly?
00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:28.079
Today we're talking about building a simple thirty day buffer on a real life budget and handling heat related illnesses the right way.
00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:32.640
Real risks, practical steps, no drama.
00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:42.960
Welcome to Practical Prepping.
00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:45.600
Today is July 27th, 2026.
00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:48.320
And this is episode 563.
00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:57.119
This is the Prepping Podcast with no bunkers, no zombies, and no alien invasions.
00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:05.280
Just practical prepping, where we teach everyday people how to prepare for life's emergencies, disasters, and crises.
00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:07.280
And we're here to help you get prepared.
00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:08.079
I'm Krista.
00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:09.439
And I'm Mark.
00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:17.040
If you'd like the episode notes for today's show, go to practicalprepping.info forward slash five six three.
00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:26.000
Now we're talking about building a 30-day buffer on a budget, and we'll be talking about handling heat-related illnesses.
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:27.200
So let's talk about that.
00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:29.359
What does a one-month buffer actually mean?
00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:40.159
Well, with a one-month buffer, your household can operate for 30 days without new income and without needing immediate outside assistance.
00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:40.799
Okay.
00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:42.719
It means three things.
00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:45.599
Start with food security for 30 days.
00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:51.439
You have enough shelf stable and freezer food to feed everyone in your home for one month.
00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:57.599
You have adequate calories and balanced nutrition using foods you already eat.
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:01.280
We're not talking about 25 year emergency foods here.
00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:04.000
We're talking about foods that you normally eat.
00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:06.560
And of course, my favorite water.
00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:19.360
The water you have on hand, enough storage for drinking purposes and basic hygiene, or a reliable plan to at least access and purify water if your utilities are interrupted.
00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:23.840
And it's having one month of essential expenses covered.
00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:29.680
Enough cash reserves to pay your core bills if the income stops temporarily.
00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:36.240
We're talking here housing, utilities, insurance, transportation, basic groceries.
00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:42.719
You have that 30-day supply, but you may need to add milk and bread for the family during that time.
00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:53.280
You know, a 30-day buffer is going to protect you against the most common disruptions, things like a job loss, medical leave, even severe weather that can impact you for weeks.
00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:59.680
A short-term supply chain could be interrupted, or there could be some unexpected repairs that need to be done suddenly.
00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:06.560
I was in a client's home the other day and they were dealing with a catastrophic plumbing leak while they were on vacation.
00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:10.719
So this bad boy went unchecked for a couple of weeks.
00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:13.360
So it's been a complete nightmare for them.
00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:17.280
And that emergency fund comes in handy for that kind of thing.
00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:25.039
It creates breathing room and it gives you time to make decisions instead of reacting in panic.
00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:28.479
It's financial and logistical margin.
00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:32.240
And it's the space between stability and crisis.
00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:36.800
So we're going to talk a little bit later about how to create a 30-day buffer on a budget.
00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:38.400
And we're going to do that in a minute.
00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:46.560
But first, we'd like to say that today's cup of coffee comes from Heidi, who has been a supporter of our podcast since March.
00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:49.520
Heidi, we really do appreciate your support.
00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:50.400
Yes, we do.
00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:59.280
And friends, you too can go to practicalprepping.info slash support, where you can show us a little bit of love by buying us a few cups of coffee.
00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:03.360
Or maybe you would even consider a coffee membership, just like Heidi did.
00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:05.199
It's only five dollars per month.
00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:09.599
But that really goes a long way to help us offset the expenses of the show.
00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:13.360
So please consider helping us out at practicalprepping.
00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:17.519
Now let's get back to the show.
00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:22.000
So here is how we create that buffer.
00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:25.839
First, assess your current starting point.
00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:38.560
Take inventory of the pantry, take inventory of the freezer, make a list of what you would need to feed your family for a month and calculate one month of your essential expenses.
00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:42.639
Now identify the gaps instead of guessing.
00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:44.560
Also create a food strategy.
00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:47.519
Of course, you want to buy what you're already eating.
00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:55.199
So consider adding one or two or a few extra items every shopping trip to build up toward that 30-day buffer.
00:04:55.360 --> 00:05:01.519
Focus on some of the calorie-dense low-cost staples, and it helps to build in some depth in your core foods.
00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:04.480
And then just create a simple rotation system.
00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:06.079
I do that very same thing.
00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:14.879
I go into my prepper pantry and I rotate out some things that I may have put back a year or two ago, and then I can replace them with more current products later on.
00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:16.800
She calls it shopping her pantry.
00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:18.160
I shop my own pantry.
00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:20.959
You want to create that water storage plan.
00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:26.560
Now the very minimum daily needs of one gallon per person per day.
00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:29.040
That's a very minimum.
00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:35.439
We store more, but start there, a minimum of one gallon per day per person.
00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:41.759
Now there's some short-term storage options, but do not reuse milk jugs.
00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:49.920
It's just virtually impossible to clean out all of the bacteria in there, and that's going to create an issue for you later.
00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:52.720
And they leak very easily.
00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:55.600
They're not intended for long-term storage.
00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:56.399
That's true.
00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:01.279
But you can get some gallon jugs of water from the grocery store.
00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:04.639
Some of these are fairly thick plastic.
00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:08.000
You can use cases of bottled water.
00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:11.199
You can refill sturdy gallon jugs.
00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:14.079
Now we use distilled water.
00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:15.439
I'm on a CPAP.
00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:17.199
I use distilled water in that.
00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:20.079
Krista uses it in a humidifier.
00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:25.680
So we get quite a few of these gallon jugs that are rather substantial.
00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:29.120
And we refill those with tap water.
00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.680
Put a date on it and set it aside.
00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:34.720
And you want to gradually increase that supply.
00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:41.759
And that's how we're increasing that supply is we're adding to it as we use up our distilled water.
00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:46.560
And remember, when you're storing water, don't store it directly on a concrete floor.
00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:51.120
Put it on a pallet or raise it up on some kind of a wood shelf if necessary.
00:06:51.439 --> 00:07:01.279
You could store it under the bed or in the back of a closet, but we just recommend not directly on a concrete floor just in case of a leak or a possible contamination if there's a flood.
00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:03.120
Well, it will leach over time.
00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:04.959
Yeah, that's true.
00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:08.480
Now let's talk about developing that emergency fund.
00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:09.120
Okay.
00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:11.199
Cash can be king.
00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:13.439
And sometimes it can be the only thing.
00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:14.480
I've seen that happen.
00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:24.639
Especially when you're talking about damage after a storm and maybe the store is able to open, but they can't process debit cards.
00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:25.199
Right.
00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:29.120
Maybe their internet is out and so they can't do that.
00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:32.079
But they can sell you gas for cash.
00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:34.319
Right, or anything else, you know, for cash.
00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:42.079
So you want a cash emergency fund for those ATM outages and for that grid damage as we mentioned there.
00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:50.639
But start with five hundred dollars as a goal and you can bill toward one month of essential expenses after that.
00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:57.439
And one of the things that helps to do this is kind of automate small weekly deposits.
00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:03.040
Now I like having a cash emergency fund here in the house.
00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:13.439
If you put in something like$10,$20,$50 per paycheck, whatever you can do, anything's better than nothing.
00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:17.680
But I ran the numbers on this when I was researching some of this.
00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:24.639
And forty dollars per pay period over three months would give you a$500 emergency fund.
00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:25.279
Okay.
00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:30.160
So it's really not that hard to build, just have to set that money aside.
00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:39.679
And one thing that I've seen some folks recommend doing is cutting one expense temporarily to accelerate the progress of that.
00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:40.159
Yeah.
00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:46.159
I've seen that where sometimes you might have to cut out that fancy cup of coffee in the morning from the fancy drive-thru.
00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:50.799
But if that helps get you toward that emergency fund, you'll be thanking yourself many times over.
00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:52.480
Yeah, I carry a thermos.
00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:58.080
I I'd rather not spend five dollars for a cup of coffee when I can have you want good coffee.
00:08:58.399 --> 00:08:59.279
I want good coffee.
00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:02.000
I want homemade coffee that I'm used to drinking.
00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:11.360
In doing this, there's some ways you can reduce the financial strain, and one is to spread these purchases over eight to twelve weeks.
00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:19.679
We're talking about building a month's worth of cushion, but you can build that over three months, and it doesn't hurt that bad.
00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:25.039
Watch for sales and seasonal discounts and bogos.
00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:32.159
I used to love to go into publics and they would have something unadvertised and it was buy one, get one free.
00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:32.960
Right, yeah.
00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:39.120
And I remember one the first time I found that particular case was American cheese.
00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:45.279
And I was eating a lot of sandwiches with sliced cheese, so it it worked great.
00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:50.080
But do not go into debt for preparedness purchases.
00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:52.799
Okay, friends, are you learning from the podcast?
00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:56.000
Are you getting some new ideas for your prepping journey?
00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:59.039
Or are you identifying a skill that maybe you need to learn?
00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:03.600
In other words, do you receive value from our little show here, Practical Prepping Podcast?
00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:06.080
Would you help us out by giving back a little?
00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:13.279
Go to practical prepping.info slash support, and you'll find several ways that you can help support our show.
00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:20.960
Now let's jump on over into segment two, and we're going to talk about heat-related illnesses, something we've been seeing in the news a bit here lately.
00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:21.759
We have.
00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:54.399
Yeah, we call it air you can wear.
00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:55.519
It's like soup.
00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:57.120
You're breathing soup.
00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:58.799
It's just miserable.
00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:07.440
But heat-related illnesses are medical conditions that are caused by the body's inability to properly cool itself.
00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:10.799
And they range from mild to life-threatening.
00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:21.679
So I want to talk about some of the early recognition and the intervention tactics that you need to take if you're starting to see yourself or someone else beginning to suffer from a heat-related illness.
00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:27.519
Now, one thing that I do is wear a cool cloth when I'm working outside in the heat.
00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:33.759
It's simple and it really does help, especially in this oppressive heat that we're experiencing this year.
00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:37.440
All you do is wet it, snap it, and put it around your neck.
00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:42.559
The evaporative cooling keeps you much more comfortable and safer.
00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:47.840
There are two that I use, and one is made by Mission and the other by Frog Togs.
00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:56.320
And I'll put the link to those in the show notes and on the featured items page at practical prepping.info forward slash featured.
00:11:56.559 --> 00:12:02.080
That's really important if you're mowing the grass or working in your garden or just outside with your kids.
00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:06.480
Just having that cool cloth around your neck can lower that temperature in the winter.
00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:07.600
It really helps.
00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:09.440
It really does help.
00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:16.559
Now the first thing we're going to cover, and these are in ascending order of severity.
00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:17.120
Okay.
00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:18.720
Heat cramps.
00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:19.679
Heat cramps.
00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:25.120
They're painful muscle cramps caused by heavy sweating and electrolyte loss.
00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:30.320
Now you see these at a lot of football games, players having leg cramps.
00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:30.720
Okay.
00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:33.679
The heat cramps that come upon them.
00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:40.480
Muscle spasms, usually in the arms, can be in the leg, but can also be in the abdomen.
00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:40.720
Oh.
00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:44.000
And it'll be along with heavy sweating.
00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:48.320
And it's common during that strenuous activity in the heat.
00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:50.320
So let's talk about prevention.
00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:53.840
You want to hydrate before you begin these activities.
00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:57.840
And during these activities and after the activities.
00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:01.360
In other words, properly hydrate before, during, and after.
00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:10.399
And you want to use some beverages that have proper electrolytes in them because this helps to replace the fluids and the salts that you lose through sweating.
00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:17.039
And take frequent breaks in shaded or cooler areas just to get some of that heat off of your skin.
00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:26.799
And if you can limit some very intense activity during the peak heat, which is generally between about 10 o'clock in the morning to almost 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:31.039
Those tend to be the hours where the direct heat is so much more oppressive.
00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:31.840
Right.
00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:43.600
Now, if you're experiencing or someone you're with is experiencing heat cramps, move them to a cool place and drink water or that electrolyte drink slowly.
00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:45.600
Don't just chug it down.
00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:50.240
And then gently stretch and massage the affected muscles.
00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:54.720
We're talking about Charlie horses here, is kind of what we're talking about.
00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:55.840
Yeah, for sure.
00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:58.720
This next one is heat syncope.
00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:00.879
No, syncope is a medical term.
00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:01.679
What does it stand for?
00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:03.519
It means fainting.
00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.559
Oh, okay.
00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:09.600
And this is a feigning episode caused by heat exposure and dehydration.
00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.200
I've actually experienced that.
00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:11.679
Yes.
00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:20.080
And symptoms can include dizziness, lightheadedness, feigning, which you did on a public roadway.
00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:20.720
Yeah.
00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:22.480
A pale skin.
00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:27.919
And it often occurs after standing quickly in hot conditions.
00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:33.919
So a great way for prevention is to, again, maintain that hydration before, during, and after.
00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:43.200
Avoid standing motionless in heat, and especially if you're locking your knees, because that can actually accelerate the bad symptoms.
00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:51.679
The kids that are in band camp during the summer, a lot of times this is going to be happening to them because they're not accustomed to rehearsing in the hot of the day.
00:14:51.759 --> 00:15:01.759
And I know that some of the instructors and the coaches and the teachers are trying to be very cognizant of the hottest part of the day where they'll do some of their training inside, and that's great.
00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:09.120
But at some point, these students are going to have to be practicing the athletic field or the band field out on the field.
00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:22.960
And so if you're feeling the syncope type feeling coming on, get yourself to a cooler place if you can slowly sit down, lie down if it makes you more comfortable, and begin hydrating, especially with the electrolytes.
00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:33.440
And I've seen videos of this uh happening with lines of troops that were being reviewed and they've been standing in attention for some period of time.
00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.080
Oh, sure.
00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:36.720
And all of a sudden, one of them just falls over.
00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:37.679
Just falls right out.
00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.879
Just falls out right there on the parade ground.
00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.879
So be careful with this.
00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:47.919
And also be careful to rise slowly from sitting or lying positions.
00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:48.960
Yeah, no jumping up.
00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:49.840
No jumping up.
00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.879
And the older I get, the more important this is.
00:15:54.559 --> 00:16:01.120
Nothing related with heat, but I'm a little bit more cautious when I stand up now than I was 20 years ago.
00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.000
Sure, I know.
00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:02.720
It feels different.
00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:02.960
Yeah.
00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:06.000
So the treatment for that, of course, move to a cool area.
00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:13.039
Lay the person down, and if you can, elevate their legs, even if you have to put some jackets or clothing up underneath their legs.
00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:16.399
Get that, uh, get those feet above that heart level.
00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:22.240
Loosen any tight clothing that might be binding on them, that might be causing a lot of elevation of heat.
00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:27.679
And provide some cool fluids for them to sip slowly once they are fully alert.
00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:31.840
Never try to give someone something to drink if they're not conscious.
00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:34.320
Now let's move to heat exhaustion.
00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:34.879
Okay.
00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:41.360
Heat exhaustion is a serious condition from prolonged heat exposure and fluid loss.
00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:43.440
I've experienced this twice.
00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.080
Yeah.
00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:55.039
Both times I was on duty, both times involved uh being at a wreck, being in a vehicle in the middle of the summer, uh in August in particular.
00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:55.679
Oh man.
00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.399
And with high temperature and high humidity.
00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:00.080
And then you're in all that gear.
00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:02.799
Yeah, and then when it's over, I went down.
00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:03.200
Yeah.
00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:14.160
But some of the symptoms here are heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, headache, cool, clammy skin, a rapid pulse, and dizziness.
00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:14.559
Yeah.
00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:20.559
And it was the dizziness that really took me out when I got your feet just come out from under you.
00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:21.279
Basically.
00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.599
And I just sat down right where I was.
00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:32.079
And happened to have paramedics on the scene that were very attentive to me after they got the patient on the way to the hospital.
00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:32.880
That's good.
00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:43.440
Now, prevention in the case of that type of exhaustion, you want to increase your fluid intake in hot weather, especially if you know you're going to be out there in it, you know, for more than just a few moments.
00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:47.200
If at all possible, wear loose, lightweight clothing.
00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:51.279
You know, this isn't the time to be going out in, you know, hoodies and long pants, maybe.
00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:54.960
And it's also a time to be wearing lighter colored clothing.
00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:55.680
Yes, exactly.
00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:57.920
A little bit more heat reflective that way.
00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:04.160
Work during the cooler hours if you can get your outdoor work done before 10 or say after five.
00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:10.960
That might be a big advantage for you so that you're not putting yourself at risk in those most exposed hours for heat.
00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:13.039
And take regular cooling breaks.
00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:18.400
Even if you don't feel like you need to stop, go ahead and stop, sit down, get cool, get in the shade.
00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:20.240
Give your physical body a break.
00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:23.279
Don't try to push through and think you can get through faster.
00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:25.279
You may not be able to make it.
00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.559
So be very kind.
00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:32.960
And here you can use wet cloths or a mist with a water and fan.
00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.079
They do make little personal.
00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.400
They even make fans in a hat now.
00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:42.480
I saw a boonie hat that has two fans built in on the brim of each side just to get your face cool.
00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:47.759
And I've always seen those misters with the little fan blade on it that turns.
00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:48.640
Those work.
00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:49.680
They they really do.
00:18:50.400 --> 00:19:00.720
But you can also use small sips of cool fluids, and you can give that to someone else as long as they are conscious as well, as Krista mentioned a while ago.
00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:02.880
Now we move to heat stroke.
00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.480
Yeah, this is the big daddy.
00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.759
This is the big one.
00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:08.319
This is the true medical emergency.
00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:10.720
You will be calling 911.
00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.480
Hopefully you will be.
00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:22.400
But we have some treatment options of how to handle this if 911 or if your emergency services are not available or are delayed.
00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.119
Oh, right.
00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.279
Okay.
00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:25.680
We're going to talk about that in a minute.
00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:30.799
But this is the most severe and life-threatening heat illness.
00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.960
People die from heat stroke.
00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.079
Yes, they do.
00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:38.640
And it occurs when the body's temperature regulation fails.
00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:44.319
Yeah, this is like you've gone through all those other stages, and now you're at literally the end of the rope.
00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:50.240
And the symptoms can be when the body temperature registers above 104 Fahrenheit.
00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.400
And we're talking about an adult there.
00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.839
We're not talking about a child.
00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.480
Right.
00:19:54.720 --> 00:20:01.200
The skin is hot, it's red, and it's usually dry, not cold, clammy, or sweaty.
00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:03.200
It's dry red skin.
00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:13.200
And there can be some behavioral symptoms like confusion, slurred speech, even seizures, or ultimately a loss of consciousness.
00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:18.480
And the best way to prevent it is to avoid extreme exertion in high heat.
00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:19.200
For sure.
00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.640
Let's point this out.
00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:27.519
Never leave anyone or any animal in a parked vehicle without the air conditioner running.
00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:35.440
We see this every year, and it's so sad that we see children die every year from being left in a hot car.
00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:41.039
And we occasionally see pets left in hot cars and they can die as well.
00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:41.839
True.
00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:47.680
You might want to check on vulnerable individuals that you know during heat waves.
00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:57.759
The infants, the elderly, and those with special needs that may not have the cognitive behavior to know how to protect themselves from high heat.
00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:04.880
Now, as Krista mentioned, call 911 immediately or your country's emergency number.
00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:07.200
It's not 911 in every country.
00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:15.119
But for example, the United Kingdom, they dial 999 or 112.
00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:15.680
Okay.
00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:32.480
European countries are usually 112, Australia is 000, New Zealand is 111, and a number of countries have different numbers if you want police, if you want fire, or if you want EMS.
00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.119
Oh, sure.
00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:38.960
So know what your country's codes or numbers are for getting help.
00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:47.279
Write those down, memorize them, make sure the the kids know how to use that and properly to call for assistance.
00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:53.359
But if you have someone who is experiencing heat stroke, move them to a cooler area.
00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:59.759
And you do this before even if you've called and EMS is ten minutes away.
00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:04.480
Which twenty minutes may be in a rural county, something like that.
00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:06.880
It can be an extended period of time.
00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:17.039
In a city, it might be four, five, six minutes, but those time periods greatly extend when we get out away from major population centers.
00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:17.359
Right.
00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:22.559
So you want to begin cooling these people as quickly as possible.
00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:27.839
And the gold standard here is cold water immersion.
00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:29.119
Not ice water.
00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.720
It doesn't have to be ice water.
00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.599
It can be tap water.
00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:34.319
Just cold tap water.
00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:38.880
Or you can apply ice packs to the neck, armpits, and groin.
00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.440
Okay.
00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:44.640
But don't give fluids if the person is unconscious or not fully alert.
00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.720
They could have some swallowing difficulty.
00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.279
They can.
00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:49.119
It could cause them to aspirate.
00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:53.599
Now heat stroke can develop very, very quickly.
00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:58.799
So prompt recognition and aggressive cooling can save a life.
00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:03.920
But now what do we do if there's a delay in professional medical help?
00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:11.279
First thing is remember that it's a life-threatening emergency and you must take action now.
00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.000
Exactly.
00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:19.839
See that brain injury can begin within minutes once the core temperature rises above 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:20.319
Okay.
00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:22.160
So act immediately.
00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:25.039
And the goal is simple, as I said earlier.
00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:27.920
Cool the body as fast as possible.
00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:37.839
Move that person out of direct heat, get them into the shade, air conditioning, or at a minimum, create airflow and remove excess clothing.
00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:42.000
These are the rapid cooling methods in order of effectiveness.
00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:44.559
Number one, cold water immersion.
00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:54.880
If it's available, immerse the person completely in cold water immediately, like in a stock tank, a bathtub, a kiddie pool, or even a very large container.
00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:58.480
It's something that can hold cold water, but not ice cold.
00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:01.599
Just cold tap water is an effective temperature.
00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:06.000
And stir that water around continuously to improve the cooling.
00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:09.200
This is the gold standard when it is feasible.
00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:15.680
You know, I had not thought about until I was doing some research on this, about stirring the water continuously.
00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:20.880
Right, because you're pulling some of the heat off of that body and you're dispersing that heat out into the water.
00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:26.640
If it's not moving, that water that is right next to the body will warm very quickly.
00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.720
So you want to do that.
00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:31.440
Next thing is cold water drenching.
00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:37.440
You would do this if immersion, if you're not able to lift that person, for example, here's your alternative.
00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:45.039
What you want to do is continuously pour cold water over the body while you're fanning them aggressively.
00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.599
Okay.
00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:48.640
You're moving that air across a wet body.
00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.920
Creating a breeze.
00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:59.839
Every time I think about cold water drenching, I see a football coach on the sidelines when his players come up behind him and dump the bucket of Gatorade on him.
00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:04.720
Maybe we won't don't need to be that aggressive, but well, if it takes it, drench them.
00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.920
Well, that's do whatever.
00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.319
Okay.
00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:12.960
And if you're not able to lift them into something, you may need to pour buckets of water over their body.
00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:13.599
Sure.
00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:16.240
Next thing is ice packs.
00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:16.799
Okay.
00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:22.880
And you place these ice packs or coal compresses on major blood vessel areas.
00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:28.240
That's the neck, the armpits, the groin on the side of the torso.
00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:32.880
Here, again, rotate those frequently as they do warm up.
00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:33.759
Yeah, exactly.
00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:36.400
It's like taking a fever off of somebody in a way.
00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:38.720
Also, some evaporative cooling techniques.
00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:43.119
You could soak clothing or skin with cool water and fan continuously.
00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:48.640
Moving that air helps dramatically improve the heat loss, and that's exactly what you're after.
00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:52.960
But if they're unconscious but they're breathing, place them on their side.
00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:53.440
Okay.
00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:57.920
Now, if they're unconscious and not breathing, then we need to go to CPR.
00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.480
Right.
00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:05.279
But you really need to monitor these folks with for their airway and their breathing very, very closely.
00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.160
Now, Mr.
00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:07.759
I'm going to pick your medic brain.
00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:09.920
Why would you place them on their side?
00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:16.799
One of the reasons is if they throw up, then there it's It's more likely to come out in a way.
00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:18.880
It's less chance of aspiration.
00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.839
Oh, that's makes sense.
00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.839
It's called a recovery position.
00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:26.160
Okay, because yeah, a nausea can very much be associated with these heat illnesses.
00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.039
With many of these.
00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.920
Yeah, for sure.
00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:37.759
But don't give these folks fluids if they're unconscious, even if they're confused or if they're unable to swallow safely.
00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:45.200
So yeah, if they're fully alert and they're able to swallow, allow them some small sips of cool water.
00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:48.319
But the cooling of their skin does take priority.
00:26:48.400 --> 00:27:00.480
So continue that aggressive cooling until professional care arrives or until the body temperature begins to drop to approximately 101 to 102 to avoid overcooling.
00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:03.039
Yeah, heat stroke is a race against time.
00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:03.519
Right.
00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.480
That's all it is.
00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:08.160
Immediate decisive cooling has been known to save lives.
00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:10.880
Yes, it has, and yes, it does.
00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:14.880
There you have it, and we have these listed in the episode notes.
00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:21.039
If you would like those, go to practical prepping.info forward slash five six three.
00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:23.839
And you'll be able to download those there.
00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.519
Thank you for your time.
00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:28.079
Thank you for being here with us today.
00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:32.799
And as Krista always says, Stuff happens, stay prepared.
00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:34.559
And we'll see you next time.
